La Villita Devotional

A devotional item commemorating a visit to the La Villita neighborhood in Chicago. The beads are chile piquin purchased from a local supermarket. Four segments signify the four rows of houses on the block visited, with the number of houses on each row corresponding to the number of beads in each segment. The list poem below is recited while holding the beads and moving over them.

1. PEACE

2. [GRACE] To Graciela3. [ASCENSION] To the South4. [MISSION] To going there5. [REDEMPTION] To returning

6. To impermanence

7. To the ice cream bells8. To the searing sun9. To the rushing wind10. To the yellow soccer ball11. To the girls on the stairs12. To the red shaved ice13. To the feather in the olive hat14. To home sweet home 15. To the bent wire fences16. To the peeling paint17. To forgiveness18. To the seagulls’ cry19. To the pigeons’ bread20. To the black bird’s straw21. To the open Book22. To the new leaves

23. To seeking

24. To the mirror’s Jesus25. To the Telemundo soap 26. To the whisper calmate27. To the accent in Spain28. To their corazon29. To our corazon 30. To Graciela’s fingers31. To the hair falling32. To the heat33. To the sweet dream34. To the sleek look35. To nada

36. To connecting

37. To the iron fences38. To the black stems39. To the white tips40. To the bronze curls41. To the red arch42. To the high spears 43. To the uneven mesh44. To the rusted chain45. To the cracks46. To the blessed flowers47. To the bikes on their side48. To the open swan49. To the brick moons50. To the falling shadows 51. To the open doors

52. To keeping

53. To Frida peeking54. To the lace Virgin55. To the day of the mother56. To the white leather57. To the black cowboy hat58. To the road map61. To the carved beads62. To the mysteries64. To the cactus63. To the chile dust65. To the guitar notes68. To the lingerie69. To the cash only61. To the maldición59. To the leaflet60. To the pain67. To the healing

70. To impermanence

71. [REDEMPTION] To returning72. [MISSION] To going there73. [ASCENSION] To the South74. [GRACE] To Graciela